Never got this sort of respect in Windies: Gayle

He came, saw and all but conquered the IPL but Chris Gayle, the face of this T20 season, is hurt that he is rarely treated with the warmth that he has been shown in India.

The Jamaican, who bludgeoned the opposition into submission and literally carried the Bangalore Royal Challengers into Saturday's final against the Chennai Super Kings, was caught up in an ugly row with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) a few months back.

The WICB was annoyed when the batsman decided to head for India immediately after recovering from an injury that had restricted his game in the World Cup, where the twice former champions failed to reach the semi-finals.

“It’s amazing I can score no runs and still be loved and appreciated round the world. Never get this sort of love and respect in West Indies,” the Royal Challengers Bangalore tweeted after the big game on Saturday in which he scored a duck.

Fellow West Indian player Dwayne Bravo, who plays for the Chennai Super Kings, hoped Gayle’s knock will shut his critics “May be we are not playing for the national team but the selectors will realise what they are missing,” Bravo said.

Interestingly, Gayle had gone unsold in the players' auction and was called in by Bangalore as an injury replacement. The explosive opener thanked Bangalore for giving him the opportunity.

“Well everything got an end. Thanks again everyone, players, coach, boss, staff and all my fans,” he said in his tweet.